purlJam

# STRIPED SLOUCHY CREW-NECK CARDIGAN
*A relaxed-fit beginner cardigan in navy with thin dark grey and burnt orange stripes*

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## MATERIALS

**Yarn:** Worsted weight wool or wool blend (approx. 200m / 100g per ball)
- **Colour A (Main – Navy):** 900–1400m (5–8 balls depending on size)
- **Colour B (Dark Grey):** 150–250m (1–2 balls)
- **Colour C (Burnt Orange):** 150–250m (1–2 balls)
- **Total yardage:** 1200–1800m

**Needles:**
- 4.5mm (UK 7 / US 7) straight or circular needles — main fabric
- 3.75mm (UK 9 / US 5) straight or circular needles — ribbing and button bands

**Notions:**
- Tapestry needle
- Stitch markers
- 6–8 buttons (approx. 18–20mm), in a colour that complements navy
- Tape measure

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## TENSION (GAUGE)

**20 sts × 26 rows = 10cm (4") in stockinette stitch** on 4.5mm needles, after blocking.

*Take time to check your tension — accuracy here ensures a good fit.*

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## SIZES

Pattern is written for **5 sizes: XS (S, M, L, XL)**.

| Measurement | XS | S | M | L | XL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Finished chest | 86cm (34") | 96cm (38") | 106cm (42") | 116cm (46") | 126cm (50") |
| Back length | 58cm (23") | 60cm (23.5") | 62cm (24.5") | 64cm (25") | 66cm (26") |
| Sleeve length | 44cm (17.5") | 45cm (17.75") | 46cm (18") | 47cm (18.5") | 48cm (19") |
| Upper arm | 32cm (12.5") | 34cm (13.5") | 36cm (14") | 38cm (15") | 40cm (15.75") |

Designed with approximately **10–15cm (4–6") positive ease** for a slouchy fit.

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## ABBREVIATIONS

- **k** — knit
- **p** — purl
- **st(s)** — stitch(es)
- **RS** — right side
- **WS** — wrong side
- **k2tog** — knit 2 stitches together (1 st decreased)
- **ssk** — slip, slip, knit (1 st decreased)
- **beg** — beginning
- **rep** — repeat
- **rem** — remaining
- **st st** — stocking stitch (knit RS, purl WS)
- **A** — Navy (main colour)
- **B** — Dark Grey
- **C** — Burnt Orange

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## NOTES

- The cardigan is worked **flat in pieces from the bottom up** and seamed at the end.
- **Stripe Sequence (worked in stockinette throughout):**
  - Work in **Colour A (Navy)** as main colour.
  - Every **20 rows**, work the following stripe band:
    - 2 rows in **Colour B (Dark Grey)**
    - 4 rows in **Colour A (Navy)**
    - 2 rows in **Colour C (Burnt Orange)**
    - Resume **Colour A (Navy)** for next 20 rows.
  - This gives a repeating 28-row pattern: 20 rows A, 2 B, 4 A, 2 C.
- **Carrying yarn:** When not in use, carry colours loosely up the side of the work — twist with the working yarn every 2 rows to keep edges tidy. This avoids cutting yarn for thin stripes.
- Maintain stripe pattern continuously across body pieces and sleeves so stripes align at side seams.
- Begin the stripe sequence **after the ribbing is complete**, on Row 1 of the stocking stitch section.

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## BACK

With smaller needles (3.75mm) and **Colour A**, cast on **86 (96, 106, 116, 126) sts**.

**Ribbing:** Work in k2, p2 rib for 6cm (2.5"), ending with a WS row.

Change to larger needles (4.5mm) and begin **stripe sequence** in stocking stitch.

Work straight until piece measures **38 (39, 40, 41, 42) cm** from cast-on, ending with a WS row.
*(Stitch count: 86 (96, 106, 116, 126) sts)*

### Armhole Shaping

- **Next 2 rows:** Bind off 4 sts at beg of row. → 78 (88, 98, 108, 118) sts
- **Decrease rows (RS):** k1, ssk, knit to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1.
- Work decrease row every RS row **4 times total**. → 70 (80, 90, 100, 110) sts

*Math check: 86 − 8 (bind-offs) − 8 (decreases) = 70 ✓*

Continue straight in stripe pattern until armhole measures **20 (21, 22, 23, 24) cm**, ending with a WS row.

### Shoulder & Neck Shaping

- Bind off **7 (8, 9, 10, 11) sts** at beg of next 4 rows. → 42 (48, 54, 60, 66) sts
- Bind off rem **42 (48, 54, 60, 66) sts** for back neck.

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## FRONTS *(make 2 — one mirrored)*

With smaller needles (3.75mm) and **Colour A**, cast on **45 (50, 55, 60, 65) sts**.

**Ribbing:** Work in k2, p2 rib for 6cm (2.5"), ending with a WS row.
*(Note: end ribbing with extra knit st at front edge as needed for symmetry — beginners may simply work k2,p2 across.)*

Change to 4.5mm needles. Begin **stripe sequence** in stocking stitch.
Work straight until piece measures **38 (39, 40, 41, 42) cm**, matching back, ending with a WS row.

### Armhole Shaping (shape at side edge only)

**For Right Front:** armhole shaping is at beg of WS rows / end of RS rows (side edge).
**For Left Front:** armhole shaping is at beg of RS rows / end of WS rows (side edge).

- Bind off **4 sts** at armhole edge once. → 41 (46, 51, 56, 61) sts
- Decrease 1 st at armhole edge every RS row **4 times** (use ssk or k2tog as appropriate to lean toward armhole). → 37 (42, 47, 52, 57) sts

Continue straight until armhole measures **13 (14, 15, 16, 17) cm**, ending at neck edge.

### Front Neck Shaping

- At neck edge, bind off **8 (9, 10, 11, 12) sts** once. → 29 (33, 37, 41, 45) sts
- Bind off **3 sts** at neck edge on next neck-edge row. → 26 (30, 34, 38, 42) sts
- Bind off **2 sts** at neck edge on next neck-edge row. → 24 (28, 32, 36, 40) sts
- Decrease 1 st at neck edge every RS row **3 times**. → 21 (25, 29, 33, 37) sts *(slight adjustment may apply — see below)*

*Adjust so shoulder count matches back: aim for 21 (24, 27, 30, 33) sts at shoulder. Work 0–4 extra plain rows or one extra decrease as needed.*

Once armhole measures **20 (21, 22, 23, 24) cm**:

### Shoulder Shaping

- Bind off **7 (8, 9, 10, 11) sts** at armhole edge on next 3 RS rows (Right Front) / WS rows (Left Front). → 0 sts

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## SLEEVES *(make 2)*

With smaller needles (3.75mm) and **Colour A**, cast on **40 (42, 44, 48, 50) sts**.

**Ribbing:** Work in k2, p2 rib for 6cm (2.5"), ending with a WS row.

Change to 4.5mm needles and begin **stripe sequence** in stocking stitch.

### Sleeve Increases

- **Increase row (RS):** k1, M1 (or knit into front and back of next st), knit to last 2 sts, M1, k1. *(2 sts increased)*
- Work increase row every **8th row** until you have **64 (68, 72, 76, 80) sts**.
  - That is **12 (13, 14, 14, 15) increase rows** total.

*Math check XS: 40 + (12 × 2) = 64 ✓ | M: 44 + (14 × 2) = 72 ✓ | XL: 50 + (15 × 2) = 80 ✓*

Continue straight in stripe pattern until sleeve measures **44 (45, 46, 47, 48) cm** from cast-on, ending with a WS row.

### Sleeve Cap Shaping

- Bind off **4 sts** at beg of next 2 rows. → 56 (60, 64, 68, 72) sts
- Decrease 1 st each side every RS row until **30 (32, 34, 36, 38) sts** rem.
- Bind off **2 sts** at beg of next 4 rows. → 22 (24, 26, 28, 30) sts
- Bind off remaining sts.

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## BUTTON BANDS

**Seam shoulders first** using mattress stitch with Colour A.

### Button Band (left front for women / right front for men)

With 3.75mm needles and **Colour A**, with RS facing, pick up and knit approximately **3 sts for every 4 rows** along the front edge — aim for a stitch count divisible by 4 plus 2.

Suggested pick-up: **108 (112, 116, 120, 124) sts**.

Work in k2, p2 rib for **3cm (1.25")**. Bind off in rib.

### Buttonhole Band (opposite front)

Pick up the same number of sts as the button band.

Work in k2, p2 rib for **1.5cm**.

**Buttonhole row (RS):** Mark 6 (7, 7, 8, 8) evenly spaced buttonhole positions. At each marker: yo, k2tog (or work [k2tog, yo] for a small eyelet buttonhole).

Continue in rib for a further **1.5cm**. Bind off in rib.

### Neckband

With 3.75mm needles and **Colour A**, with RS facing, pick up and knit sts evenly around neckline — approximately **80 (86, 92, 98, 104) sts** including the tops of both button bands.

Work in k2, p2 rib for **2.5cm (1")**. Bind off loosely in rib.

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## FINISHING

1. **Sew side seams** using mattress stitch with Colour A, matching stripes carefully across the seam.
2. **Sew sleeve seams** using mattress stitch.
3. **Set in sleeves:** Pin sleeve cap into armhole, easing fullness at the top. Sew using mattress stitch / backstitch on WS.
4. **Sew on buttons** opposite buttonholes.
5. **Weave in all ends** on the wrong side, working through stitches of matching colour where possible.
6. **Block** the finished cardigan to measurements: gently wet-block or steam-block, lay flat, shape to schematic dimensions, and allow to dry completely.

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### COLOUR PLACEMENT TIP
The thin 2-row stripes of dark grey and burnt orange will appear as crisp pinstripes against the navy field. For a particularly polished finish, ensure your stripe sequence begins on the **same row number** of all four body/sleeve pieces — count rows from the top of the ribbing on each piece.

**Enjoy your cosy, slouchy striped cardigan!** 🧶